audience
audience Lexical Profile
audience Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The assembled spectators or listeners at a public event, such as a play, film, concert, or speech.
"The entire audience rose to its feet to give the orchestra a standing ovation."
The group of people who watch, read, or listen to the same broadcast, publication, or body of work; a target demographic or following.
"The novelist's latest historical thriller has attracted a wide international audience."
A formal interview or consultation with a person in high authority, such as a monarch, pope, or head of state.
"The visiting diplomat was granted a private audience with the pope at the Vatican."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a collective noun, 'audience' takes a singular verb in American English when viewed as a single unit (e.g., 'the audience was applauding'), whereas British English frequently uses a plural verb when emphasizing the individual members (e.g., 'the audience were in their seats').
• Rhymes for audience
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French audience, from Latin audientia ('a hearing, listening'), derived from the verb audire ('to hear').